-Okay!- I started breathing heavily from exhaustion, -How'd I…..How'd I do?- I asked Bruce.
"Well considering three of the trees over there have holes in them and one of them got knocked over from that steel tail and staff…..yeah! I'd say you did a pretty good job!" I looked around at the three trees that had holes in them. I had practiced using my force palm on those, which is kind of impressive, but I sent a good bit into each to cause the holes. I also tried practicing how to use it in a fight, which is pretty easy, just place my paw on any body part and let the energy go, it might be able to break bones!
Then for the tree that had fallen over. Yeah I was using my iron tail and my staff to make dents and practice how to hit with them. I learned how to hit if my back is turned and use my tail effectively. It worked out extremely well…..until the tree fell over, and here we are now! It has been about two or maybe three hours worth of training, it was starting to get dark.
But I had noticed something, -HEY BRUCE! You know you are going to have to delete those videos on your phone right!?-
"Chill man! I am not going to post them, well after this is over and we explain what happened to you at least, but until then I just want to re-watch them, not every day you get to see something like this!" He explained.
-Yeah but just be careful about it okay?- I asked.
"Okay! Hey so uh during you training you said we were going to do something afterwards right?" He asked.
-Yep, so anyway I was thinking since you want to help me train and help me go after these guys I was thinking that I shouldn't be the only one that fights,- I explained.
"Okay so what do you expect me to do, these are like ninjas, or spies, OR SUPER SAIYANS!" He screamed.
-Well even though your logic in that last part is flawed, yes they do have an advantage over you,- I said with my paw on the under part of my muzzle. -So I thought we should get you something to protect yourself while you are around me, so how about we head down to academy and get you some weapons?-
"Are you sure that's a good idea Xeta?" He asked.
-Better then you getting jumped or killed, so come on lets go!- I said.
"Uh sure, I think you have been through enough though, lets take my car!" He said.
-Alright then!- I said. I got my coat back on, along with my weapons, then I turned back on my disguise. We walked back out of the woods and then to the spot where Bruce had parked near the school. We got in the car and I immediately buckled up. As we got moving I turned off the disguise to relax.
-Dude! I have not sat in a car in about a week! It actually feels good to not have to run like a madman you know?- I said expressing relief.
"Well, not really man, I mean you literally walk or run to school, and I saw how fast you were during training and during that fight, speaking of it, it's like you know what they do before they do it, can you read their minds?" Bruce asked as he drove.
I turned to him, -No, actually when I am fighting and moving like that somehow I see things at a different speed, it's like time slows down, I don't really know,-
"Wait really? So like when your moving at fast speeds and using your body in ways that require quick reflexes you see things slower?" Bruce asked.
-That's basically it! When I fight it's the same as if I'm running! My perception of the fight or movements are enhanced, so then I can time attacks and blocks perfectly!- I explained.
"Huh, do you think it could have something to do with those instincts you were talking about?" He asked.
-Maybe, or it could be this aura, I am not exactly sure but thankfully all I have to do is fight or run, it activates on it's own after that!- I explained. He drove as I really had nothing to do.
-Hey man got nay music?- I asked.
"Um sure, what are you in the mood for?" He asked.
-Um, 21 Pilots, Black Eyed Peas, Eminem?- I asked.
"I got 21 Pilots!" He replied.
-Okay! You got Heathens?- I asked.
"Hell yeah!" He handed me the cd and I put it in the disc tray and got the song ready. Heathens was my favorite in the soundtrack from this band so I had to play it. Basically a song about your friends being heathens and wrong doers and stuff like that, but really I just listen to music for the beat!
By the time the song was over we had made it to Academy, which is basically a huge outdoor equipment store. I turned back on my disguise, stepped out of the car and waited for Bruce to get out as well. Once he did he looked around.
"Damn, this place usually packed?" He asked.
-Yeah, big place, all sorts of things people need, yeah it's busy a lot of the time,- I answered.
"I mean, I guess I can see it with hunters and fishers and stuff like that," He said.
-Yeah but we might want to stop talking, people don't need to look at you like your crazy having a one-sided conversation,- I explained.
"Okay!" He replied. We walked inside of the building and we walked back to first the survival weapons area, which has knifes, axes, equipment you would use to prepare hunted food, stuff like that. We walked down the hall looking for a weapon that could fit him and be easy to use.
"Hey what about this?" He asked. I took a look at what he had and it was a very light hatchet. It didn't weigh much and seemed like the best weapon he could us against someone attack him at close.
-Alright, looks good, now the next thing you need it a gun, I have my wallet on me but we will only be able to buy a shotgun or a rifle, since I'm only eighteen and all,- I said.
"Wait you can buy a shotgun or rifle but not a pistol?" He whispered.
-Nope, don't ask me why that is just gun law,- I said.
"Huh, law class did you good huh, but where the f#$% is the second amendment huh?" He asked.
-Who knows?- I replied.
After we got what close quarters weapon he would use we went to the gun section, they had all of these glass cases holding handguns and then they had rifles on the back shelves. I started letting Bruce look around and casually told him with telepathy that it didn't matter the price. He started looking at the shelves and he seemed to eye one he liked. I just stayed nearby looking at some scopes as he decided. I overheard the gun he was looking at is called a "Savage .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire Bolt-Action Rifle," what a long ass name. It looked like it got made with a really strong wood and built very well, it seemed like any other bolt-action rifle though. He asked if he could try out the gun and the man said he needed ID which he provided and it costs fifty dollars for rounds. I walked up and gave him the money for him to try out of my wallet.
The gun he was using was bolt-action but it was really better that he stayed back anyway. He went into their firing range and the man went in and showed him how to load the gun. It seemed like one of those load in and go guns, you individually place each bullet in. He gave it a shot and when he did it seemed to give a kick. He kept practicing and practicing until he thought he had it down. He handed the gun back to the man and told him that would probably be the one he wanted. They walked back over to me and I decided I wanted a gun as well.
I told Bruce through telepathy to tell the man I wanted a gun as well, but I was leading towards a shotgun. The teller seemed like he was going to ask why I couldn't speak but shut up because I think he noticed my fake scar. I started looking on the shelves for the shotgun I wanted and was able to spot one. I told the man to bring it down and take a look. The shotgun was a, "Mossberg 500 J.I.C. Cruiser 12 Gauge Shotgun," as the man described. See it was a pump-action shotgun like the other but didn't have the stock, not meant for hunting as more of a defensive weapon. I chose that one and the teller asked if I wanted to try it. I agreed and gave him the money out of my wallet. I went into the shooting range this time and got the gun loaded. The man instructed me on how to the load the gun and I followed them to the best of my ability. I had some trouble and the teller got a little frustrated, which I understood, because he didn't realize that I was trying to use paws to load a gun. Anyway after some trial and error I was able to effectively load the shotgun and pump it.
I aimed down the range and fired at the target they had. Thankfully with my quick reflexes I could pump the shotgun faster than I think I would have normally been able to do. I kept firing and one I ran out it was time for my first reload. I tried reloading the gun faster this time and I expected myself to fair but thankfully if a bullet fell I caught it real quick, would have to practice more but not half bad on my behalf.
After my test fire I walked back outside where Bruce had waited and I nodded at him to tell I wanted the gun. Bruce told the teller we would buy the gun and get on our way, but I wanted us to get one more thing before we left. After purchasing, buying ammo, and cases for the guns we walked over to a gear section.
"What are we doing on this aisle?" Bruce asked quietly.
-We need gear to hold our ammo you know, cant just be stupid and carry one mag,- I replied.
"Oh, right," He said.
-Go ahead pick one that works with your ammo, I'm looking for one myself that will fit,- I said. He walked off to look for his own gear while I took a look around myself. I would need one smaller than average and thankfully I found the smallest one with adjustable straps, it also had shotgun shell holders on it as well, lucky me.
"Hey, will this do?" Bruce came back holding a black piece of gear the looked like it could hold rifle ammo. I though it suited him so I nodded. "Alright then, I guess we pay and go right?" He asked.
-Yep, that's it!- We took our time to get up to the front since there was already a line and only one register open….they had three.
After about maybe five to ten minutes of waiting in line it was finally our turn to pay. The woman at the front made a joke about us looking like swat members or something, I kind of found it funny myself. After that we took the guns and loaded them into his car and started heading back to my cave.
"Hey um, so how did you pay for that anyway," He asked me.
-A family tree worth of life insurance,- I said.
"Oh…shit," He said.
-Yep,- I replied with a somber expression.
He waited for a minute before speaking, "So yeah, I wont be able to take my gun home you know?"
-Yeah I thought of that, it's a simple solution, just keep your gun at my cave okay?- I said.
"I guess…..heh, I'm kind of scared though," He said.
-Ah, tell me about it, you know you don't have to do this right?- I told him.
"I wouldn't feel right leaving you to do this alone man, all you have left is your friends, so if I don't help you who will, and I know you wouldn't let Elizabeth help with this, you care about her too much," He said.
-But I care about everyone I have left!- I pleaded.
"I know, but dude I know you're in love with her, I remember you telling me that for the first time and you were so scared about telling me, and when I asked why you told me it's because you didn't want to lie" He said.
-Damn you still remember that, it was like two years ago wasn't it?- I asked.
"Yep, I remember you also told me you are scared of her parents, really greedy mofos, right?" He asked.
-Yeah, that's them, I feel bad for her, she doesn't deserve what they try to make her do,- I said.
"Yeah well if she moves out she wont have nothing to worry about!" Bruce said. "But anyway back to what I was saying, I understand why you would be more protective of her, and I don't think of you any less with being more strict about this with her then me, you want help, but you can't bring yourself to ask her, I would probably do the same man," He finished.
-Thanks for understanding man,- I said.
"No problem, and don't feel guilty if anything happens, I chose this remember? You didn't force me," He said.
-Thanks again,-
"Don't mention it, seriously don't, if you do I'll hurt you," He joked.
-Try it, I'll snap your arm like a twig,- I said with an evil smile.
"Seeing as what you did to that tree you would probably do more than snap it," He joked as well.
-Heh, yeah I guess your right!- After a few more minutes of driving we were back to the parking lot we were at before. I got the gun cases out and took them out of the car along with our gear.
"Hey man, look I think I will keep the hatchet with me, I think I can hide that one pretty well!" He said sticking his head out of the window.
-You sure?- I asked.
"Yeah, kind of want some reassurance along with me okay?" He said.
-Alright!- I picked up the cases and gear and got ready to head out, -I'm heading back, I will talk to you later man!-
"See ya!" He then took off in his car as I started walking through the forest. It took a bit of time to get back to my cave but halfway there I turned off my disguise to take a breather. Once I got back I put down the cases and gear and was finally able to take off my coat and sword. I decided to try on my gear and see how it fit.
It took a minute of adjusting but I was finally able to get it where it fit me comfortably and didn't hinder movement. I would try the shotgun later, I was a bit too tired. It was weird though, I had a feeling I was forgetting something, but just couldn't put my fi-er, I guess paw on it.
…..Wait…..
I then screamed in my language, "ARGH! I FORGOT ABOUT THE PROJECT FOR ANATOMY! F#$%!" We only had three days to work on it and I had a tendency to procrastinate on stuff like this!
I quickly went to my bad and got out some paper. Once I finished that I went to my phone and started looking up facts about body parts and stuff like that. During my search I got a text from Elizabeth. I opened up the message with my paws and read it aloud to myself.
"Hey, so I guess telepathy doesn't work long distance does it?" I read.
I quickly typed in the message, "No it doesn't."
I waited a minute for a reply, "Gotcha, so….did you forget about the project?"
Knew that was coming, "I did, but was just starting to get on my part."
I then waited for the next text, "Ah, so you were procrastinating," She said ending with a smirk emoji.
I typed back, "I was actually hanging out with Bruce."
I waited, "I'm just messing with you! Knowing you, you will probably get this done tonight!"
I texted back, "Depends on how long I stay awake…your parents aren't screwing with you are they?"
I waited for a reply, "You really are too worrying you know, and no they aren't trying to get me to change or ignore my friends."
I replied, "Good to hear, they shouldn't do that to you."
I waited for a minute, "Well once I move out they wont be able to control me, just don't know where I would stay."
I was going to reply you could stay with me but I was too afraid to, there would be no way she would live in a cave anyway, "Hey well, if you ever need help finding a place you can talk to me! I could see what I could do!"
I waited for a reply, "You really are too sweet, let's just worry about that when the time comes okay Xeta! Good luck on the work, maybe we should try to go on a date again you know?" She ended with a wink face emoji.
I started to blush and replied, "Yeah! Sounds good! Well see what we can do! I better get back to this project, talk to you later!"
I waited for a reply, "See ya Xeta!" And with that I got to my research. Maybe I could try to get this done early, then wouldn't have to worry about it later. I then pretty much spent the night working on the project and eating leftovers as dinner!
During the work I kept thinking to myself about Elizabeth, we already confessed we loved each other, so why weren't we saying it…oh who am I kidding, I'm a dog, there is really no way for it to work, hell even I can't man up to say it again to her.
Whatever, I need to focus anyway, I ignored my paranoid thoughts and got back to working on the project for my anatomy class.